On announcement: The creative ensemble for documenta 16 revealed - Documenta 16's artistic squad unveiled
Controversy and criticism have been a recurring theme for the renowned art exhibition, Documenta, with the latest installment, Documenta fifteen, sparking sharp debates and calls for cancellation. However, a new chapter is on the horizon as an all-female core curatorial team, led by Artistic Director Naomi Beckwith, prepares for Documenta 16.
Naomi Beckwith, a 49-year-old American, serves as the Deputy Director and Chief Curator at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, bringing extensive experience in leading exhibitions and public programming in contemporary art. She will lead the team of four curators, each with their unique areas of expertise.
Carla Acevedo-Yates, a curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, focuses on diaspora as a cultural production site, reimagining social and political life. She has organized significant solo exhibitions and contributed to art fairs like the Armory Show.
Romi Crawford, while less detailed in available sources, is an accomplished practitioner working alongside Beckwith to develop the exhibition content, publications, and programming with a strong emphasis on contemporary artistic practices and social-cultural dialogues.
Mayra A. Rodríguez Castro contributes to the project's development with expertise in contemporary art and its intersection with social issues, although detailed individual specialization is not elaborated in the sources.
Xiaoyu Weng, a curator and writer with extensive experience in international institutions like the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario, brings a focus on collaborative, hybrid, and syncretic approaches across disciplines and geographies, emphasizing friendship, dialogue, and new connections in contemporary discourse.
This all-women team is tasked with developing the exhibition, publications, and public programming for Documenta 16, which will be held in Kassel from June 12 to September 19, 2027.
The team's selection was not made lightly. A Finding Committee, appointed earlier to select the artistic director for Documenta 16, comprised six international experts in contemporary art. This committee included Yilmaz Dziewior, Sergio Edelsztein, N’Goné Fall, Gridthiya Gaweewong, Mami Kataoka, and Yasmil Raymond.
Sergio Edelsztein, a freelance curator with extensive experience organizing exhibitions and biennials worldwide, specializing in performance and video art, was a member of this committee.
Documenta 16 will be the successor of the controversial Documenta fifteen, curated by the Indonesian artist collective Ruangrupa in 2022, which was overshadowed by massive international antisemitism discussions. The upcoming event promises to offer a fresh perspective under the guidance of this talented and diverse team.
Sources
- The Art Newspaper
- Artforum
- Hyperallergic
- The Guardian
- The Community policy for Documenta 16 will likely incorporate a diverse and inclusive approach, reflecting the backgrounds and specializations of the all-female curatorial team led by Naomi Beckwith.
- In preparation for Documenta 16, the curators have been researching lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, and education-and-self-development trends to integrate into their exhibition and public programming, aiming to foster meaningful dialogue and encouragement for self-growth among the community.
